Computer source for Audio

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Hi,

My current arrangement is roon / tidal into separates.

I run Roon (and Dirac for DRC) on a Zotac zbox PC. My DRC requirement rules out non Windows. IAC it is not a music only PC but also does video streaming into a 55" wall of glass (WAF ki kimat). This is a i3 with 4gb RAM and has place for only one HDD.

The issues with my present setup ? Roon takes a long time to load. I cannot minimize Roon - non resolvable open GL issues mean I will get only a blank screen (Roon continues to play). The dabba I have does not do 4K - at all.

So the requirement : Zbox profile with SSD and HDD, 4K capable streaming and movies not gaming, ideally fanless.

I am in the land of the free for a short while and can source and mule the new dabba home.

I asked on another forum (TIAF on fb) and was pointed at the kaby lake i7 NUC and with some reading got here.

Something similar is tested on Anandtech (not for audio). It follows the Roon recommendation

Why not a nucleus ? Utne Paise nahi hain. Also I have to run Dirac. But what about the linear power supply bhai ? I don't know really. My reading got me here

So what/ is there a question ? Yessir

1) what does hfv think of this proposed arrangement.
2) how would I connect this ifi ipower 9V to the new dabba ? would it even work
3) Can I do better than this for the US$1100 or so ?

ciao
gr

 

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Been reading up a lot on this. Posting here in case it is vaguely useful or interesting to anyone

I want to be able to run this with a linear power supply. I have zeroed in on sbooster which is at a nice price/ reviewed performance point. This one is here
http://hifiheaven.net/shop/Sbooster-BOTW-P-P-ECO-18V-19V-Linear-Power-Supply-Upgrade-Black. (36W)

The 7i7 has a TDP of 25w and I will have no headroom with a 36w power supply. I could try and fiddle with the configure processor to lower TDP options to drop that down.

I would ideally go fanless.

http://e-itx.com/ds77u5-fanless-core-i5-system/ has a fanless system which will do 4K @ 60Hz over DP. This is $1004.

Without fanless it would be the Thunderbolt™, HDMI 2 wala https://www.simplynuc.com/7i5bnh-full/ ($894)

I found this https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-rock-with-a-linear-power-supply/29838/74. Buying that case would cost me $113 from AZ.

So dear FMs I have a $3 difference for which the difference is that the thunderbolt and HDMI 2.0 ports go away. Which I conclude does not seem to be worth it.

So I guess it is the NUC7i5BNH which meets my requirement except for the fanless bit. However I have an option of getting the Akasa case

Thanks for your patience 　

Thoughts/ suggestions welcome

ciao
gr